Two Fall River Officers Wounded, Suspect Killed in Shootout

FALL RIVER (WBSM) — Two police officers were wounded and the suspect shot and killed after an officer-involved shooting in Fall River early this morning.

Bristol County District Attorney Thomas M. Quinn III said Fall River Police responded at about 12:13 a.m. to a residence on Linden Street for a 911 call reporting a Black male possessed a firearm in a vehicle outside of that address.

He was later identified as Nigel Vaughn, 40, of Fall River.

How the Confrontation Turned Violent

Police arrived to find Vaughn outside of the address in a dark-colored SUV. They performed a pat-frisk on him, during which Quinn said Vaughn began to violently resist, and during the struggle, took out a firearm.

While on the ground, Vaughn began firing at police.

He struck one officer in the elbow and another in the abdomen, which hit his bullet-resistant vest. There was also a third officer at the scene.

The officers then returned fire, striking Vaughn. They then rendered aid to him.

“A Glock firearm with an aftermarket modification known as a ‘switch’ was located next to the suspect,” the D.A.’s Office said in a release. “The switch made the weapon fully automatic, capable of firing multiple rounds with one trigger pull.”

Vaughn was taken to a local hospital where he was pronounced deceased. The officers were transported for treatment. Their injuries were not life-threatening and they have since been discharged.

Fall River Police Had Prior Encounter With Vaughn

The D.A.’s Office said that Fall River Police had interacted with Vaughn a short time before the shooting. Just before midnight, they responded to a call reporting reckless driving in the parking lot of Knight’s Gas Station, also on Linden Street, with a possible physical altercation. Police arrived and found Vaughn in the gas station parking lot in a dark-colored SUV along with two other individuals. After speaking with Vaughn, he was told to leave the private lot.

Officials React to the Fall River Police-Involved Shooting

“Once again, this incident highlights the dangers police face in encounters with armed individuals. The suspect has a violent history and the officers were just doing their job on a brutally cold night trying to protect the community,” D.A. Quinn said. “Through the grace of God, all of the officers' lives were spared. I am grateful for their service and professionalism under the most difficult of circumstances.”

“We are deeply grateful that our officers are able to return home to their families tonight,” Fall River Police Chief Kelly Furtado said. “Each day, they serve with dedication to protect our community. Incidents like this underscore the inherent risks of this profession and remind us how fortunate we are to be served by such courageous men and women. Fall River is proud to be protected by some of the finest police officers.”

Investigation Ongoing

The incident remains under investigation by Massachusetts State Police detectives assigned to the District Attorney’s Office.